Gentlemen,
I am looking to purchase a nice 1911 in the next few months. I have to save up for it since my family comes first. I have been looking at various 1911s, and I want something nice. It's rare to see a product on the market with such a swing between top end and low end prices. Imported, stripped down 1911s can be had below $400 (citadel), and top end pistols can cost around $6k (Nighthawk).
I am not the kind of man that will pay $6000 for a pistol--I don't care how nice it is. Even if I was rich, the idea of paying so much is just a no-go at this station because I don't think there is $3000 in difference between the Nighthawk and other more realistically priced 1911s. Conversely, I am not the type to buy the cheapest pistol out there. I believe you ALWAYS get what you settle for. IF you buy the low end, you get the low end.
I want value. I want a pistol that always goes bang, and is accurate, but I am not an operator or a competitor. What truly separates a $1000 Sig 1911 from a $1400 Kimber from a $3000 Wison? Given the nature of modern manufacturing, the parts will likely all interchange--or very close. The steels used will be similar. The forging will be similar. I don't care about snake skin looking machining on the slide or bobtail mainspring housings, or other scary sounding name engraved on the slide (raptor, falcon, meanie, etc). What I care about is performance:cost ratio.
I have read quite a lot recently about how Kimber is resting on its laurels, and QA/QC is slipping. I have read where Sig is producing products priced below their actual quality. Wilson is always top notch. Springfields seem to be consistent. Colt has the name, but Union workers drive up the cost of manufacture.
Given similarly outfitted pistols, what justifies the huge difference in price of the various 1911s, and what is the best value?
I am looking to purchase a nice 1911 in the next few months. I have to save up for it since my family comes first. I have been looking at various 1911s, and I want something nice. It's rare to see a product on the market with such a swing between top end and low end prices. Imported, stripped down 1911s can be had below $400 (citadel), and top end pistols can cost around $6k (Nighthawk).
I am not the kind of man that will pay $6000 for a pistol--I don't care how nice it is. Even if I was rich, the idea of paying so much is just a no-go at this station because I don't think there is $3000 in difference between the Nighthawk and other more realistically priced 1911s. Conversely, I am not the type to buy the cheapest pistol out there. I believe you ALWAYS get what you settle for. IF you buy the low end, you get the low end.
I want value. I want a pistol that always goes bang, and is accurate, but I am not an operator or a competitor. What truly separates a $1000 Sig 1911 from a $1400 Kimber from a $3000 Wison? Given the nature of modern manufacturing, the parts will likely all interchange--or very close. The steels used will be similar. The forging will be similar. I don't care about snake skin looking machining on the slide or bobtail mainspring housings, or other scary sounding name engraved on the slide (raptor, falcon, meanie, etc). What I care about is performance:cost ratio.
I have read quite a lot recently about how Kimber is resting on its laurels, and QA/QC is slipping. I have read where Sig is producing products priced below their actual quality. Wilson is always top notch. Springfields seem to be consistent. Colt has the name, but Union workers drive up the cost of manufacture.
Given similarly outfitted pistols, what justifies the huge difference in price of the various 1911s, and what is the best value?